Centralized automobile driving control



Dec.8,1936.' 'D OOK 2,063,793

CENTRALIZED AUTOMOBILE DRIVING CONTROL Filed April 29, 1955 POWER CLUTCH CONTROL Patented Dec. 8, 1936 CENTRALIZED AU'roMofimE DRIVING CONTROL Delbert Cook, Farmingdale, N. J. Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,919 3 Claims. (01. 192-.01)

This invention relates to a centralized automobile driving control and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will simplify the driving and controlling of an automobile over the present method ot providing independent pedals or controls for the accelerator, brake and clutch of an automobile .and will be readily adaptable to an automobile while in the course of manufacture or to an automobile now in use and of late type. Another object of this invention is the provision of a single movably mounted pedal or treadle conveniently located to the driver and having means for connecting it to the carbureter control of the automobile and to the brake and clutch mechanisms of said automobile, whereby the driver may in the customary manner actuatethe carbureter control with a toemovement of one foot and with a heel movement of the same foot first to disengage the clutch for the shifting of gears or to provide free wheeling to the automobile and with a further heel move ment apply the brake for slowing down or stopping oi the automobile, while still holding the clutch disengaged.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement 01' parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my'in'vention, reference is to be had to the following descrip'- tion and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section a illustrating a centralised automobile driving control constructed in tion. Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating linkage forming part 01' the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates one end of the device showing spring means for neutralizing or the repositioning of the parts of the device when relieved of manual force.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating parts of the linkage.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numerall indicates the floor or toe boards of an automobile to which my invention is installed. Also shown in Figure 1 '01 the drawing is a power brake control 2, a power clutch control 3 and linkage 4 connecting my invention to a carbureter control of the automobile. The parts described are conventional and my invention is readily adaptable thereto.

accordance with my inven- A bracket 5 is mounted to the toe or floor board "I and pivotally supports a pedal or treadle 6 torrocking motion by the foot of the driver of "the automobile, a suitable heel plate I being formed integrally with one end portion 01' 5 the treadle or pedal, the opposite end portion being known as the toe portion. As shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, the pedal or treadle may be rocked into several positions and the downward movement of the toe portion advances [the carbureter control towards open positionfor accelerating the speed of theengine of the automobile and an upward movement oisaid toe portion closes the carbureter control. Rods 8 and 9 are pivoted to the pedal or treadle and extend through openings in the toe or floor board I. The rdd 8 is located adjacent the toe portion of the treadle or pedal while the rod 9 is located adjacent the heel portion andmounted upon said rods 8 and 9 and interposed between the floor 80 board 1 and the pedal or treadle are coil springs ll acting to restore the pedal or treadle to its normal position when freed of manual force. One endof each spring in engages a nut ll, the purpose of. which is to vary the action-or tension 0! the 215 spring and by adjusting the springs as to their actions the neutral position of the pedal or treadle may be varied. A

Secured to the floor board I, directly under the bracket 5 is a bracket l2 and pivoted to said bracket are companion pairs of arms I3 and I4. One arm of the pair of arms I3 is pivotedto the rod 8 and the other arm of said pair is pivoted to a link I! which is in turn pivoted to v the linkage -4. One arm of the pair of arms I4 is pivoted to the rod 8 and .the other arm of said pair is pivoted to a link It, one end oi which is pivoted and slidably connected to the .control arm I! of the power clutch control mechanism 3. The link l6 has a pin and slot 40 connection IS with a control arm- IQ of the power brake control mechanism 2. The control arms I! and I! have connected thereto springs 20' acting to restore the control arms in posi-. tion to render said power clutch and brakecon-" trols inoperative when the pedal or treadle is relieved of manual force. The arms oi'the pairs U of arms l3 and H are superimposed, as clearly suggested in Figures 2 and.4 oi the drawing. While I have shown and described connections between the arms I! and I4 with the linkage l. of the carbureter control and the power clutch control and power brake control, it is to be understood that theseconnections may bevaried for the purpose of adapting my invention to diflerent makes of automobiles.

In operation, the driver of the motor vehicle places a foot upon the treadle or pedal and to control the speed 01' the engine of the automobile the toe portion is depressed and raised as usual in automobiles equipped with a pivotally mounted accelerator pedal. ,To disengage the cluch the heel portion of the pedal or treadle 6 is moved into dotted line position denoted by the word clutch in Figure 1. This brings about an operation of the power clutch control to disengage the clutch so that the gear changing of the automobile may be brought about as usual or to disengage the clutch for the purpose of obtaining free wheeling of the automobile. The pin and slot connection l8 at this time permits the power brake control to remain idle or in non-brake applying position. To apply the brakes of the automobile, the heel portion of the pedalor treadle 6 is depressed further into the position denoted by the word brake in Figure 1, bringing about the operation of the car brake control, thereby retarding the speed of the automobile or bringing the latter to a stop. During the operation of the power clutch control and also the power brake control by a downward movement of the heel portion of the pedal or treadle it will be seen that the arms l3 prevent movement of the carbureter control. This also applies to the power clutch control and power brake control when the toe portion of the treadle or pedal is depressed for accelerating the speed of the engine of the automobile, this latter operation being taken care of by the two or three pedals as is customary. With this aoeanos invention all that is necessary to stop a car, suddenly or otherwise, is one downward motion of the heel by which single motionthe throttle ,is closed, the clutch disengaged and the brakes applied.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with clutch, brake and throttle controls of an automobile, a fulcrum secured to the automobile, a treadle pivoted to said fulcrum, rods connected to saidtreadle at opposite sides of the fulcrum, spring means on said rods to neutralize the position of the treadle on the fulcrum, a bracket secured to the automobile, pairs of arms pivoted to said bracket and the arms of said pairs of arms being ar- 7 ranged in superimposed relation and one arm pair being arranged in superimposed relation,

means connecting the upper arms of each pair of arms to 'said pedal, means connecting the lower arm of one of said pair of arms to a throttle, and'means connecting the lower arm of the other pair of arms to clutch and brake controls. 3. A centralized automobile driving control comprising, a pivotally mounted pedal, pairs of arms pivotally mounted and the arms of each pair being arranged in superimposed relation, means connecting the up arms of each pair of arms to said pedal, eans connecting the lower arm of one of said pair of arms to a throttle, means connecting the lower arm of the other pair of arms to clutch and brake controls, and spring means for neutralizing the position of said pedal.

DELBERT COOK. 

